VIRAC, CATANDUANES — Pacific Partnership 2025 officially kicked off its latest mission in Virac on June 1, bringing U.S. and Philippine forces together to conduct intensive disaster response training aimed at strengthening local emergency preparedness.
In collaboration with the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), the Hawaii National Guard, and the Center for Excellence in Disaster Management, the mission includes a series of hands-on training programs for local responders and civilian officials.
The training focuses on urban search and rescue (USAR), the Incident Command System (ICS), and disaster management planning—all designed to enhance local capabilities in the face of natural disasters.
“Pacific Partnership is about more than training; it’s about building lasting relationships that strengthen regional security and stability,” said Commander Robert Reyes, officer-in-charge of the Philippines leg of the mission.
Using frameworks modeled after the U.S. National Incident Management System and adapted to local needs, the program features command post simulations, interagency coordination exercises, and scenario-based planning. These efforts aim to align the efforts of both civilian and military response units across Catanduanes.
The USAR component includes high-risk rescue training such as collapsed structure operations, shoring, confined space navigation, and rubble pile drills. A full-scale disaster simulation will cap off the training to assess real-time coordination among participants.
Now in its 21st year, Pacific Partnership is the largest annual multinational humanitarian and disaster preparedness mission in the Indo-Pacific. It works with host nations to build regional resilience, enhance interoperability, and cultivate enduring partnerships throughout the region.
